Poor Navigation

February 20, 1986

Mount Dora's city council is off course in scuttling plans that would have allowed the Orlando Yacht Club to relocate on Palm Island.

Tuesday, during the same meeting in which council members bemoaned the fact that the city is woefully deficient in recreational facilities, they torpedoed a plan that would have provided a full range of summer sailing activities for city residents.

The yacht club had offered the only sailing lessons available outside Orlando for Lake County youngsters. Further, it was willing to consider making its already reasonable rates even cheaper for underprivileged children.

The offer was a good one.

Some council members complained that the rent the club was offering to locate on city land was too low. But instead of negotiating the price, council members just dismissed the offer outright.

At the same time they reasoned that this prime recreational waterfront site would be better used to house the city's planning department, even though it is far from all other city offices.

The city can find no better location for its planning department than one of the few prime recreational facilities it has at its disposal? Some enlightened planning indeed.

Council members should listen to their own parks commission, which gave the plan overwhelming support. What better way is there to provide this kind of recreation for city residents? The club would pay for the privilege of locating in Mount Dora. It would staff the sailing activities at its own expense and provide the boats, all at no cost to the city. Further, the club would contribute to the city's economy and be an important addition to downtown.

There is still time to reconsider. Mount Dora council members should do just that. Tuesday's decision closes the door on too many positives for the city.